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CMWS 2014: Bill Hood blanks Detroit Metro Stars 3-0 in Game 5

Kade Granier throws one-hitter in the win

By Karl Schneider The Daily Times

Updated:
08/02/2014 11:37:36 PM MDT

Detroit Metro Star second basemen Frank Maloney tags out Bill Hood's Scottie Sanders on Saturday during Game 5 of the Connie Mack World Series against the Detroit Metro Stars at Ricketts Park in Farmington. (Alexa Rogals/The Daily Times)

FARMINGTON — Bill Hood starter Kade Granier pitched about as good of a game as he could have asked for, allowing just one hit in a 3-0 win over Detroit in Game 5 of the Connie Mack World Series Saturday night at Ricketts Park.

"I felt really good. That one pitch got away," Granier said of his one allowed hit. "But I'm not upset I didn't get a no-hitter. I'm still happy with my performance, especially that we got the win."

Bill Hood struck right away with an RBI single from Scott Sanders, scoring Zach Clark from second in the bottom of the first to make it 1-0.

In the top of the second, Detroit's Travis Perkola made it to second on a bad throw from Bill Hood shortstop Brennan Breaud. Perkola would reach third on an Anthony DiPonio ground out, but during the next at bat, with two away, Zach Schmidtke went down swinging to end the inning.

Bill Hood catcher John Joubert catches the last out of the game on Saturday during Game 5 of the Connie Mack World Series against the Detroit Metro Stars Ricketts Park in Farmington. (Alexa Rogals/The Daily Times)

Detroit starter Andrew Gonzalez matched Granier inning-for-inning as the two battled in a classic pitchers' duel.

"Andrew was awesome. He's been a bulldog all year long," Detroit manager Shawn Maloney said of his starter. "You can't say anything but the best about him. He gave us a chance to win the game."

With two outs in the top of the fifth, Schmidtke broke up the Louisiana pitcher's no-hit bid, blasting a triple deep into the gap in right center. The hit ended the no-hitter, but Granier kept Detroit off the board, getting a ground ball from Austin Harvey to get out of the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Detroit again looked poised to spark a rally when Joey Rydzewski drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on a couple of sacrifices. But again, the Metro Stars couldn't get the run in with Granier retiring the Detroit side.

After back-to-back walks to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth with one out, Bill Hood looked to added a couple of security runs.

"Well, our approach, we like to swing it. We're aggressive, obviously," Bill Hood manager Chris Westcott said. "We were hitting opposite. We were hitting their pitches instead of ours, and in the sixth, we made an adjustment, and it clicked. We got a base hit, a walk, another walk and then a big base hit."

The hit came from the bat of Taylor Schwarner, driving in Daniel Lahare to extend the lead. Bill Hood would get another run in on the next at bat as Spencer Miller knocked in Zach Clark when Detroit failed to turn the double play.

In the top of the seventh, Zack McGuire reached on a Scott Sanders error at first, but McGuire's base running experience was short-lived, getting picked off by the catcher for the inning's first out. Granier finished the game off, getting Travis Perkola to ground out and Anthony DiPonio to pop up to end the game.

Maloney credited Granier with a great performance, adding it was a below average performance at the plate from his guys, who were shutout for the first time all year.

"I think tomorrow we'll be better," Maloney said. "We lost our first game in the regionals and had to play elimination games the rest of the way to get here. So this isn't a place we haven't been before."

With the win, Bill Hood advances to play D-BAT Leach in Monday's 7:30 p.m. game, while the loss sends Detroit to a elimination game against South Troy tonight at 5:15.